The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-19

a misrepresentation OF his position. We
are fully aware that he never explicit
ly announced the Universalist conclu-
sion as to destiny, that he did not ap-
parently always recognize the logical
result Of his teaching, but nevertheless,
his preaching and his mighty influence
were m ost heartily given to that inter-
probation of Gods love for all his child
rep, which warrants the largest conclu-
sion that can be drawn, and that justi-
fies the largest possible hope for the
future of mankind.
His orthodox opponents were always
quick to recognize this legitimate out
come of his preaching, and now that he
is dead, they are willing to acknowledge
that Mr.. Beecher's largest influence on
the thought Of the age was in this spec
ial direction. But there are many who
sympathize with his views, who also
readily acknowledge the same thing.
DR.. Lyman Abbott, in his touching
article in the Christian Union remarks:
"My debt to Mr.. Beecher is greater
than to any other man, living or dead,
excepting only my father. Like many
a son of New England, L began my
Christian life with faith in God who is
just, belief in a law which is memorable,
and submission to the primacy of con-
science absolute but not infallible.
From Mr.. Beecher | first learned that
God is love, that law is redemption, and
that love, not conscience, is the souls
primate. Who that has learned this
lesson from any teacher can ever forget
the lesson, or look with other than a
reverent affection on the teacher from
whom he learned it? Mr.. Beecher has
rendered his generation many and great
services political, moral, social, theo-
logical but his greatest service is in
this, that he has taught the Puritan
church that God is love, and law is love,
and life is love; that love is all and in
all"
Rev. Dr.. Noble, (Congregationalist),
of this city, in his sermon of Sunday
a discourse on the whole, just to the
great preacher and highly apprecia-
tive of his work and mission-re-
marks very candidly: 1.-THE elements
sin the influence of Mr.. Beecher were
mot altogether good. He had broken
down well-formed religious belief to
''make it the basis of honest faith. His
''manner of presenting truth wrought
harm to many souls. 1t was plain that
"many Universalist ministers in the
Gland would claim him as an exponent
"of Universalism. If Universalism
twas true, then there was no harm in
''such presentation. If it was not true,
''who could measure the harm that had
"been done?" Many similar testimo-
MES might be quoted, from both friends
and enemies of Mr.. Beecher, showing
on almost every hand the recognition of
his influence as powerful factor in the
liberal enlightenment and progress of
the age.
1t is beyond all question that Henry
Ward Beecher's manly eloquent and he
roic ministry was made vital and power
full by trustful faith in God and divine
providence which was not inspired by
any of the orthodox dogmas. He re-
ceived his most glorious inspirations
from those conceptions of the benignity
and essential goodness of the divine
Father which are identical with the
teachings of the Universalist church.
With Tennyson, and other great minds,
Mr.. Beecher
"Trusted God was love indeed
And love creations final law"
and during the best years of his life,
his thought moved along the lines of
this resplendent faith, and here his ex-
allied and unparalleled ministry bore it's
richest fruition. Beecher has been the
minister of God for good to millions of
his countrymen by his eloquent presen-
tation of that Christianity which recog-
nizes God as the Father of a family,
that teaches charity for all, that think
eth no evil readily of any man, and
that never impeached the divine good
ness or dared to think evil of God. He
was the great popular evangelist of the
century. He Invested relig-
ion of its medi@val superstitions and
lifted multitudes to the grander outlook
of an enlarged and consoling Christian
faith. Amid his splendid services in be-
half of the slave, o the country in ''peril
false brethren, !" in behalf of tenn
perance, and all forms of the moral, So
cial and political welfare of mankind,
his great record shines the brightest in
connection with his religious teaching.
Born, as DR.. Abbott suggests, of Pur-
itan race, whose conception of God was
infinite Justice, solitary in operation
among the divine attributes, whose
symbol was the sword OF an executioner
ready to strike in awful vengeance, this
man became the royal teacher of new
the eloquent herald of that
faith which makes all things new
which teaches that God is love, and that
love is eternal that the universe is not
the theatre of black despair, but the
dwelling place of family whose Father
is God; and that life, law and destiny |
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